Electric regulator or controller.



No. 803,253. I PATBNTED OCT. 31, 1905.

' H. R. STUART.

BLEGTRIO REGULATOR ORCONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED 813F126, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

mm mwis 'l T I WITNESSES INVEN TOR FR 711%, M 4

ATTORNEY- No. 803,253. PATENTED 001". 31. 1905. H. R. STUART. ELECTRIC REGULATGR DR CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1893.

4 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

WITNESSES: /NVENT R @FH. W ATTORNEY PATENTED OCT. 31, 1905.

H. R. STUART. ELECTRIC REGULATOR OR CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED 811F126. 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

\ INVENTOR W/TNESSES:

A TT'OR/VEY No. 803,253. PATENTED OCT. 31, 1905. H. R. STUART. ELECTRIC REGULATOR OR CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARVE R. STUART, OF VVILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A COR- PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1905.

Application filed September 26,1903. Serial No. 174,773.

has for its object to provide a simple, and ef-.

iicient means for so controlling and regulating the voltage of electrical systems that the;

voltage variation shall be gradual and continuous and shall be accomplished without injurious arcing between the contact-pieces of the specific apparatus employed.

The control and regulation of the voltage of systems of distribution for alternating currents have heretofore generally been effected by means of step-by-step variation of the ac tive lengths of the windings of transformers or by means of angular displacement of one coil with reference to another upon which it acts inductively or by means of a combination of the two methods. The former method is objectionable, because of the dangers of injurious arcing between the contact-pieces of the apparatus when large currents or high voltages are utilized. The latter method is expensive and complex and requires the expenditure of considerable power to operate the apparatus. I propose to combine the advantages of these two methods and to avoid their disadvantages in a novel manner, hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a system of distribution employing an autotransformer, and Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a system employing a two-winding transformer, both embodying my invention. Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation. of one form of apparatus which embodies my invention. Fig. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 with the actuating-motor and its supporting-plate removed. Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of a switch for opening the motor-circuit. Fig. 6 is a view, partially in cross-section and partially diagrammatic, of the magnetic and electrical circuits of the choke-coils.

similar view of a modification, and Fig. 8 is a perspective vlew of another modification of Fig. 7 is a a portion of the apparatus embodying my in vention.

Referring now to Fig. 1, a given portion of an autotransformer-Winding 1, which is supplied from the distributing-mains 2 and 3, is provided with a plurality of spaced leads a, 5, 6, 7, and 8 and with an end lead 9, that constitutes one conductor of the work-circuit which supplies the load 10. WVhile only a comparatively small portion of the winding 1 is shown as provided with the spaced leads, it will be understood that all or any other desired portion may be provided with such leads. A laminated iron core 11. which may be of the form generally employed in transformers of the shell type or of any other form which will serve the purposes of my invention, is provided with a winding 12 in the form of a helically-wound strap or bar having its adjacent turns equally and properly spaced for the purpose ofinsulation and being so mounted and constructed as to be capable of rotation, a longitudinal movement of the iron core 11 and attached parts being also effected simultaneously with said rotation. The helical winding is so placed with reference to the spaced leads of the transformer-winding that as it is rotated and moved longitudinally the brushes 39, with which said leads are provided, make contact successively therewith, the points of contact progressing gradually from one end of the helix to the other, according to the direction of rotation. The axial length of the helix is approximately equal to twice the distance between consecutive leads or such that not more than three nor less than two of the brushes 39 engage therewith at the same instant. One end of the helix 12 1S electricallyconnected to a ring 13, which rotates therewith, the ring being interrupted at 1A. Brushes 15 and 16 bear upon the ring 13 at diametrically opposite points, the brush 15 being connected to one terminal of a choke-coil 17 and the brush 16 to one terminal of a choke-coil 18, which opposes the magnetic elfect of the coil 17. The other terminals of the said coils are connected together and to the conductor 19, which constitutes one side of the work-circuit for supplying the load lO. Coils 17 and 18 are here shown as wound upon the same iron core or in the same magnetic circuit as the helix12, and though they might be wound together upon a separate iron core, if desired, they are l 39 in a manner substantially as described in affected only by the leakage flux from the transformer-windings formed by the helix when arranged as shown. The function of these choke-coils is to prevent the ring 13 from forming a short-circuited turn around the iron core and at the same time to provide a path for the current to the load in order that there may be no interruptions in the circuit when the brushes 15 and 16 pass over the break in the ring 13.

If the helix 12 is in the position indicated in Fig. 1, the brushes 39 of leads 4:, 5, and 6 make contact with it, and the current is supplied to the load 10 through the lead 1, a small portion of the helix 12, thering 13, coils 17 and 18, and conductor 19, The voltage supplied to the system being substantially that between the leads 9 and 4. When the helix is rotated and moved to the right, so that the lead 4 is no longer in contact therewith, the portion thereof between the leads5 and 6 becomes the primary of a transformer the secondary of which is the portion of the helix between the lead 5 and the ring 13. Just at the time when the contact between the lead 4 and the helix 12 is interrupted the ratio of the primary to the secondary turns is approximately one to one, so that the voltage between the lead 5 and the ring 13 is equal to that between leads land 5 or to that between leads 5 and 6. The current is now supplied to the load 10 through lead 5, the portion of the helix between lead 5 and ring 13, ring 13, coils 17 and 18, and conductor 19. Since the voltage in the secondary represented by the portion of the helix between the lead 5 and the ring'l3 opposes the main voltage, the voltage supplied to the load remains practically unchanged; but as-the helix is rotated and moved longitudinally the secondary turns gradually become less, and hence the voltage supplied to the load gradually increases.

In Fig. 2 I have shown my invention as adapted for use in connection with a twowinding transformer 20, a given portion of the secondary winding of which is divided into a plurality of lengths by means of leads 21, 22, 23, 24C, and 25. The helical winding 26 is of such axial length that the brushes 39 of twosuccessive leads may make contact therewith at the same time. Connected to the leads 2 1 and 25 is a coil 27, which is placed on the same iron core 28 with the helical winding 26 and constitutes the primary winding of a transformer of which the helix is the secondary winding. The winding 27 a between the leads 24: and 25, which constitutes an auxiliary transformer-winding for supplying current to the winding 27, may be electricallyindependent of the main secondary winding of the transformer 20, if desired. As said helix is rotated it moves longitudinally, thus varying the number of turns in the secondary and bringing it into contact with the other brushes connection with Fig. 1. With this form of apparatus the drop in voltage in the portion of the helical coil between one of the brushes 39 and the ring 13, due to resistance and induction, may be compensated for by so designing the primary winding 27 that the volts per turn of the helical secondary winding 26 may be slightly increased over the value desired to oppose the main voltage.

It is to be understood that exactly the same form of apparatus as is shown in Fig. 1 may be employed in connection with a two-winding transformer, if desired.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 1, and 5, the laminated iron core 11 is of the ordinary double rectangular form used in transformers of the shell type, the core-plates being clamped together between end plates 29. Attached to said end plates in any suitable manner are plates 30, which support the iron core and the coils and engage with the supporting guiderods 31. The helix 12 is secured in a suitable manner to the surface of a cylinder 32, formed of wood or other non-conducting material, said cylinder being capable of rotation around the tongue 33 of the iron core. The cylinder is actuated through a train of gears 34 by means of a motor 35, though any other suitable actuating means may be employed. The extended shaft 36 of one of the gear-wheels 37 is threaded and engages with the stationary threaded portion 38. The pitch of the thread on the shaft 36 is such that the distance traveled by the iron core during one revolution of the helix is equal to the pitch of thehelix. The spaced leads from the transformer-winding 1 are connected to stationary brushes 39, with which the helix makes progressive contact when it is rotated, as hereinbefore specified. The ring 13 is of slightly smaller diameter than that of thehelix 12, and at 14, where it is open-circuited, suitable non-conducting material is inserted in order to make asmooth continuous surface. Bearing upon said ring are the brushes 15 and 16, which are movable with the iron core, the brush 15 being connected to one terminal 'of the choke-coil 17, the brush 16 to one terminal of the choke-coil 18, and the other terminals of the choke-coils being connected together and to the line conductor, as described. in the circuit of the motor 35 are located suitable switches 10, one at each end of the path of movement of the regulator, which are automatically opened when the movable parts have reached their extreme positions, thus stopping the motor, and consequently the movement of the driven parts. Each switch may consist of two springs 11 and &2, which are normally in contact, but are separated by the pressure of some one of the movable parts upon the spring 41 when the extreme position is reached. If a two-winding transformer is employed, as shown in Fig. 2, the coil 27 may be mounted so as to be structurally independent of the helix 12 and be therefore movable only longitudinally with the core.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic and sectional view showing clearly the arrangement and connections of the choke-coils 17 and 18 and the ring 13, to one end of which thehelix 12 is attached.

In Fig. 7 I have shown choke-coils l7 and 18, core 11-, and ring 13 substantially as in Fig. 6; but in this arrangement the brushes 15 and 16 are located in alinement at one side of the ring. Instead of the open-circuited collector-ring 18 a closed-circuited ring of high resistance may be employed, the resistance of the ring itself limiting the quantity of current therein. With this arrangement only one brush is required and the choke-coils may be dispensed with.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a modified form of iron core 43. which may be used instead of that previously shown and described. The tongue 44, around which the helix 45 is wound, is separated from the remainder of the magnetic circuit and is rotatable with said helix, substantially as shown. With this modification it is unnecessary to employ the open-circui'ted ring and choke-coils, as the lead from the helix may be brought out through a hollow shaft 46 to a collector-ring 47. If a main transformer having two windings is employed, as shown in Fig. 2, collector-rings are also necessary to conduct the current from the leads 24 and 25 to the primary winding 27, which may be located in any position on the core where it will act inductively upon the winding 26.

It will be understood that longitudinal movement of the core of my apparatus is provided merely as a matter of convenience and that any and all variations of form, dimensions, and structural details which will permit of longitudinal movement and simultaneous rotation of the helix either with or without movement of the core or any portion thereof are within the scope of my invention. It will also be understood that the brush or brushes may be moved longitudinally to make contact with the surface of the helix as the latter is given a rotative movement only or that the helix may be stationary and the other member, or members be moved in uninterrupted contact with its surface. It is also within the scope of my invention to locate the helix in inductive relation to the main transformer-winding instead of providing the latter with spaced leads and to efl'ect such relative movement of the helix and a cooperating contact member as will provide the uniform voltage regulation desired.

As is well known in the art, if a double range of voltage adjustment for a given size and capacity of apparatus is desired this may be secured by the employment of reversingswitches, and I contemplate the use of such switches in connection with my invention when they are regarded as advantageous.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with a transformerwinding having a plurality of spaced leads, of a magnetizable core having an exposed helical winding, and means for producing longitudinal movement of said core and winding and simultaneous rotation of the winding to effect uninterrupted contact between said winding and at least one of said leads.

2. The combination with a transformerwinding provided with a plurality of spaced leads, of a magnetizable core having an exposed helical winding, means for producing longitudinal movement of said core and winding and simultaneous rotation of the coil to effect progressive contact with successive transformer-leads, the length of helical winding between any two successive leads remaining constant and forming the primary winding of a transformer the secondary winding of which consists of the variable portion of the helical coil between one end thereof and one of said leads.

3. The combination with a transformerwinding having a plurality of spaced leads, of a magnetizable core having an exposed helical winding, means for producing longitudinal movement of said core and winding and simultaneous rotation of said winding to effect progressive engagement between the same and the successive transformer-leads, the length of helical winding between any two successive leads remaining constant and forming the primary winding of a transformer the secondary winding of which consists of the variable portion of the helical winding between one end thereof and one of said leads,an open-circuited collector-ring attached to one end of said 11 lical winding and movable therewith, brushes bearing on said ring and choke-coils connected in opposition between said brushes and one of the distributing-conductors.

4. The combination with a transformerwinding provided with a plurality of spaced leads, of a magnetizable core having an exposed helical winding, means for moving the core and winding longitudinally and simultr neously rotating the winding to effect progressive contact between the turns thereof and successive leads from the transformerwinding, the portion of the helical winding between two of said leads remaining constant and forming the primary winding of a transformer the secondary winding of which consists of the variable portion of the helical winding between one end thereof and one of said leads, an open-circuited collector-ring attached to one end of said helical winding and movable therewith, brushes bearing upon said ring and a resistance-winding the terminals of which are connected to said brushes and the middle point of which is connected to one of the distributing-conductors.

5. The combination with a transformerwinding provided with a plurality of spaced leads, of a magnetizable core having an exposed helical winding, and means for producing both longitudinal and rotative movement of said winding to effect progressive contact with uccessive leads from the transformerwinding, the portion of the helical winding between two of said, leads remaining constant and forming the primary winding of a transformer the secondary winding of which consists of the variable portion of the helical winding between one end thereof and one of said leads.

6. The combination with a transformerwinding having a plurality of spaced leads, of a magnetizable core provided with a helical winding having an exposed surface, and means for producing both longitudinal and rotative movement of said winding to effect progressive contact between the same and the spaced leads from the transformer-winding, the variable portion of said helical winding between the point of contact of a lead therewith and one end thereof forming the secondary winding of an auxiliary transformer the voltage of which opposes the voltage of the main transformer.

7. The combination with a main transformer one of the windings of which is provided with a plurality of spaced leads, of a magnetizable core having an exposed helical winding, means for moving said core and winding longitudinally and simultaneously rotating said winding to elfect progressive contact with the successive leads from the main transformer-winding, the variable portion of said helical winding between the point of contact of a lead therewith and one end thereof forming the secondary winding of an auxiliary transformer the voltage of which opposes the voltage of the main transformer, an open-circuited collector-ring attached to one end of the said helical winding and movable therewith, brushes bearing on said ring and choke-coils on said iron core arranged to oppose each other and one terminal of each being connected to one of the distributing-conductors and the other terminal to said brushes.

8. The combination with a main transformer-winding provided with a plurality of equally-spaced leads, of a magnetizable core having an exposed helical winding, means for longitudinally moving said core and winding and simultaneously rotating the winding to effect progressive contact with the successive leads from the main transformer-winding, the variable portion of said helical winding between the point of contact of a lead therewith and one end thereof forming the secondary winding of an auxiliary transformer the voltage of which opposes the voltage of the main transformer, an open-circuited collector-ring attached to one end of the said helical winding and movable therewith, brushes bearing on said ring and a resistance-circuit the terminals of which are connected to said brushes and the middle point of which is connected to one of the (:listributing-conductors.

9. The combination with a transformerwinding provided with a plurality of spaced leads having contact-terminals, of a helical coil having an exposed surface with which said terminals make contact, means for moving said coil both longitudinally and rotatively and means for conducting current between said coil and a distributing-00nductor.

10. The combination with a transformer- Winding provided with a plurality of equallyspaced leads having contact-terminals, of a coil having an exposed surface with which said terminals make contact, means for moving said coil both longitudinally and rotatively and means for conducting current between said coil and a distributing-00nductor.

11. The combination with a transformerwinding provided with a plurality of spaced leads having contact-terminals and a helical coil having an exposed surface with which said terminals make contact, of a magnetizable core for said coil, means for moving said coil both longitudinally and rotatively and means for conducting current between said coil and a distributing-conductor.

12. The combination with a transformerwinding provided with a plurality of spaced leads having contact-terminals and a helical coil having an exposed surface with which said terminals engage, of a magnetizable core for said coil, means for moving said core and coil longitudinally and for rotating said coil and means for conducting current between said coil and a distributing-coeductor.

13. The combination with a main transformer one of the windings of which is provided with a plurality of spaced leads having eontact-terminals, of a helical coil having an exposed surface with which said terminals make contact, a magnetizable core for said coil having a winding that receives current from the main transformer, means for moving said helical coil both longitudinally and rotatively and means for conducting current between said coil and a distributing-circuit.

14. In a voltage-regulator, the combination with a main transformer having a winding which is provided with a plurality of spaced leads having contact-terminals and having an auxiliary winding, of a magnetizable core pro vided with a helical coil having an exposed sur face with which said terminals make contact and with a winding having its terminals connected to the terminals of the auxiliary winding of the main transformer, means for moving said core and its windings longitudinally and for rotating the helical coil, and means for conducting current between said coil and a distributing-circuit.

15. The combination with an open-circuited collector-ring surrounding and capable of rotation about a magnetic circuit and connected to a suitable source of energy and brushes bearing upon said ring, of means for preventing said ring from becoming short-circuited during rotation.

16. The combination With an open-circuited collector-ring surrounding and capable of rotation about a magnetic circuit and connected to a suitable source of energy and brushes bearing upon said ring, of means for preventing said ring from becoming short-circuited during rotation consisting of choke-coils on portions of said magnetic circuit connected to said brushes and to one of the distributingconductors and arranged so as to oppose each other.

17. The combination with an open-circuited collector-ring surrounding and capable of rotation about a magnetic circuit and connected to a suitable source of energy and brushes bearing upon said ring, of means for preventing said ring from becoming short-circuited during rotation consisting of choke-coils connected to said brushes and to one of the distributing-conductors and arranged so as to oppose each other.

18. The combination With an open-circuited collector-ring surrounding and capable of rotation about a magnetic circuit and connected to a suitable source of energy and brushes bearing upon said ring, of means for preventing said ring from becoming short-circuited during rotation consisting of a resistance-circuit connected to said brushes, the middle point of said circuit being connected to one of the distributing-conductors.

19. The combination With a transformer having spaced leads provided With contact devices and a coil having an exposed surface and subjected to the influence of the transformer-current, of means for effecting moving contact between the exposed surface of said coil and one'or more of said contact devices and means for conducting current from said coil to translating devices.

20. The combination with a transformer having spaced leads provided With contact devices and a helical coil having an exposed surface and subjected to the influence of the transformer-current, of means for effecting mov ing contact between the exposed surface of said coil and one or more of said contact devices, and means for conducting current from said coil to translating devices.

21. The combination with a transformer having a Winding one terminal of Which is connected to one side of a Work-circuit and provided With spaced leads terminating in contact devices, and a helical coil having an exposed surface and subjected to the influence of the transformer-current, of means for offecting a progressive engagement between the exposed surface of said coil and one or more of said contact devices and connections between one terminal of said coil and the other side of the Work-circuit.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sul scribed my name this 15th day of September, 1903.

HARVE R. STUART.

Witnesses:

J 0s. W. ALEXANDER BIRNEY Hnvns. 

